Brave mum Jane has published first book

POET ... Jane with her son Joshua and how we broke the story about her being Woman of the year

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A courageous mum - and former Observer woman of the year - is about to publish her first book.

Jane Gill-Wilson was nominated for the award in 1998 because of charity fundraising she organised after being diagnosed with two serious illnesses.

The mum-of-three learned that she had lupus - a chronic autoimmune condition – in 1996 when she was just 36.

She was then diagnosed with having breast cancer just a few months later.

Jane underwent a mastectomy in 1997, with further health problems causing her to have a second operation in 2008. She is currently in remission from cancer but stil suffers the symptoms of lupus.

Now the former nurse has written 17 poems, in a collection called Raw Emotion, recalling her experiences of ill health and depression, with the goal of inspiring other women.

Jane said it was something she had been wanting to do for a long time.

She said: "I have always wanted to tell my story and I have been writing for years, but the inspiration to tell it in rhyme was sudden.

"One of the poems in the book is called Blossom in Bloom.

"When I was first diagnosed I planted a cherry blossom tree in the garden.

"That has become very poignant now because each time it blossoms it seems to represent new life.

"Others are about my children because they have always been my inspiration, keeping me going." Jane, who moved from, Brigsteer Close in Clayton-le-Moors to Clitheroe in 1998, decided to turn her hand to writing poetry after setting up a brand new website called Shared Experiences in April. On the website she blogs about living with a chronic illness and encourages other women to tell their own personal stories.

She said: "Shared Experiences is for women who have been through similar situations of ill health, or marital difficulties and other life events.

"I invite ladies to tell their stories, and as a consequence of that I started to write my own verse poetry.

"It was through people reading it and saying you must publish this that I came up with the idea of publishing a small book. I would like to think that my verse doesn’t just relate to me, but any woman who has been through a life threatening event."

Jane has been divorced twice and says depression is something many people living with chronic illnesses face. She said: "In the beginning of my book my dedication is to all those who are less fortunate than myself and all those who continue in their fight. It says never give up hope, because I think a positive mental attitude is vital in coping with chronic illness." The collection, which is to be to be published by SilverWood Books, will be released for sale at the end of February. Jane is also working on her life story, Just Another Hurdle, to be published at a later date.